I felt a theme pass over my heart: Sit still and be filled by Jesus, Go only when He says Go! This theme is a way of thinking, a way of life, a way of worship for me this year. I’m almost embarrassed to share it for fear that you might think that I, the one who talks about making Jesus famous and living out His Kingship, do not nor never have sat still and filled up by Jesus. Pride,right? Heaven forbid anyone think this is a NEW thing God is doing in my life.
Nope. Not a new thing.
Not anything different than before.
Not anything revolutionary.
Yes…life changing.
I just expressed this theme to a friend over coffee. As the words spilled out of my mouth I almost stopped and laughed out loud. For, this upcoming year I am guaranteed that He will challenge my obedience to this very clear directive. Over the next year many projects lay on my plate. Many opportunities to knock open doors to make the “right” things happen. Many, many, many opportunities to use my God-given nature of being a TYPE A go-getter.
Yet, Jesus tells me to sit still?
That is the new thing in it all: how I will obey and trust.
I’m changing my perspective by naming this what it is––sitting still and being filled. In the past I would have called this waiting. Who doesn’t just love to sit and wait, right? Who doesn’t love to NOT have control over the outcome. Who doesn’t love to hand over the reigns and outcome. Waiting makes my heart palpitate with anxiety as I come to the forgone conclusion that I must not g0 and do and get it done.
But sitting still…that sits differently in my heart and mind, if you will.
Instead of waiting for the outcome, the end, the next step, I sit and find satisfaction in the experience that I am SITTING with the very ONE who created the span of eternity with just one Word. Exciting. Rather than waiting and living in a state of limbo, I sit still and revel in the experience of peace and fellowship with the One who created me to be in constant relationship.
The KING wants me to sit at His feet.
So, not a new thing but a new perspective. Not a new posture of sitting, but a new posture of worship. Not a new way seeking satisfaction but a new and sure fire way to experience the FIRE and Fulfillment of His presence in my life.
Bottom line: sitting still is the greatest thing I can do in my life right this moment. Time will tell. Obedience must happen. Blessings abound.
Who’s with me?
Leave a comment…let’s chat!
(photo credit: geirt.com via photopin cc)
Sarah, just left a comment on Rachel Wojo’s blog about waiting…and you have added another dimension to it. My phrase this year is similar to yours. It is “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. I am blessed to be able to spend so much time in the Presence of the Lord in quiet time, but sometimes I get too busy reading my devotionals or in Bible study, reading and journaling. On New year’s day, God simply said to me “less is more”, less reading and writing and studying, even though these are important and more time being still with the expectation that He will speak to my heart! I am also a type A personality, but I have not felt that same calling as you have to simply sit and be filled in that same way. I have just let my quiet time become quiet…in two weeks, Jesus has just opened and enlightened the eyes and ears of my heart and soul to so much more! God bless you as you journey through the stillness with an open heart, soul and mind! I have a feeling that God has great plans for you when He calls you to action!
Ahhh sitting still is so hard for me to do. I am a type A personality too. I think this year I should just leave it all to God. But that is so hard for me. I mean sometimes I feel like I must do something for God to help me out and other times I feel I should do nothing and wait for things to happen. I am confused at times. I am done school and in position for job offers. After that I am not sure where my life is headed.
Sarah and other Sisters, You need to know that our GOD is MIGHTY, JEALOUS and FAITHFUL. If He wants you to sit still in His presence it WILL happen. And you WILL grow in ways you’ve never imagined.
My flesh is very Independent, self-sufficient, charming etc. The Lord called my in 1970 and has blessed me greatly. I’ve served in many ministries and loved being used by Him. I’ve also fallen many times and suffered the consequences. I’ve been broken but loved. Through all this I’ve worked very hard to discipline myself to read the Word everyday and spend time seeking Him. Meantime I’ve been working so hard to do a good job in everything I’m involved in. Think you’ve got the picture? Still after all these years its Me, me, I, I
THEN one morning when I was in my usual hurry to make it to an all-day seminar, The Lord allowed me to trip and fracture my skull and end up in ICU with 3 brain bleeds. Hospital for 3 weeks, not allowed to do ANYTHING by myself. Then home SITTING and NO movement by myself for 3 months. It was 2 weeks before I stopped fighting and begin to LOVE the place He took me. So close to Him with no interruptions. Since that time HE has opened my life in so many ways. Opened it to sit and see His magnificence, the Facts of who I am in HIM and what He desires of me. To Love the Lord my God with ALL my heart. TODAY, THIS MINUTE. He moved what I knew to who I am. This is all to say that He wants and WILL MAKE His Own to experience His unending LOVE. Rejoice in all trials!
Thank you Sarah, and fellow sisters for posting. Reading your comments and blog post have been very encouraging. I am also a Type A personality .. which makes it hard to sit and just BE with Yeshua. He is dying to be with us .. sometimes he wakes me up in the middle of the night and I frantically try to get back to sleep.. but all he wants is to show me something in the Bible (something that helps me calm down). I need to work on just being with him .. and not preoccupying myself with a mammoth list of things to do. May the Lord bless us as we sit and wait for him to speak to us, and may we have eager/ready ears and hearts to listen to his wonderful voice.